Germany assists in flood control in Cambodia

Germany has provided assistance to Cambodia for flood control system project that will benefit about 700 households with approximately 3,500 farmers and their livestock, according to a statement released by German Embassy on Friday.

The statement said the project was just completed and the hand- over ceremony of the flood control system built in the three districts in Kandal and Prey Veng Provinces, located about 65 kilometers southeast of Phnom Penh, was organized on Friday.

It said that the newly constructed Safety Areas, 900 to 2000 square meters in size, consist of sufficiently raised foundations (several meters above the respective highest flooding levels of the severe flooding in the year 2000), equipped with latrines and drinking water supply facilities.

The assistance was made available after it has learned that severe flooding, as recently witnessed in Pakistan and China, poses substantial threats for human lives.

Flooding also occurs frequently along the Mekong River, and based on requests from the respective district governors, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) - under its Flood Management and Mitigation Program (FMMP) - constructed five Safety Areas in the three districts.

The activities have been financially supported by the German Government and implemented by GTZ (German Technical Cooperation Agency).

Following the year 2000 flood in Cambodia, safety area identification and management by the provincial and district authorities became one of the important flood preparedness activities for evacuation and temporary shelter for flood affected people and their livestock.

The statement said the project costs of the five Safety Area constructions were approximately 20,000 U.S. dollar in total, and the beneficiaries are almost 700 households with approx. 3500 farmers and their livestock, who will be able to evacuate with their belongings to those Safety Areas in times of severe flooding.

Source: Xinhua